US Judge Cancels Boeing Trial After 737 MAX Crash Settlement
A U.S. federal judge has canceled Boeing’s scheduled criminal trial over the deadly 737 MAX crashes, following a preliminary settlement reached between the company and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The trial was originally set to begin on June 23 in Fort Worth, Texas, but U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor granted a joint request to vacate the date. Final approval of the agreement is still pending, and the judge could reinstate the trial if the deal is rejected.
The settlement stems from two fatal crashes involving the 737 MAX aircraft in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people aboard Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines flights. Under the agreement, Boeing will pay $1.1 billion, including $487.2 million in penalties (with credit for $243 million already paid), $444.5 million for victims’ families, and $455 million toward improving safety, quality, and compliance programs.
The DOJ stated the settlement offers accountability while avoiding the uncertainty of a trial. However, several families of crash victims have condemned the deal, arguing it lets Boeing avoid a criminal conviction and calling it inadequate for the scale of the tragedy. One victims’ attorney called the non-prosecution arrangement “unprecedented and obviously wrong.”
The DOJ noted that some families support the resolution as a way to move forward, highlighting the emotional toll of ongoing litigation.
Boeing previously settled charges in 2021, agreeing to a three-year probation. In May 2024, the DOJ found the company in violation of that agreement, leading to a renewed plea deal that still awaits the court’s final decision.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, yahoo.com